394 SPOONBILL. 



Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands. Tn Ireland, Mr. Ussher informs 

 me that he has records of ^^ occurrences in the maritime counties, 

 principally in the southern districts and especially in co. Cork. 



The Spoonbill seldom visits Scandinavia or Northern Russia, and 

 was first obtained in Heligoland on July 14th 1892 ; but south of 

 56° N. lat. it breeds in suitable localities, even as near us as Holland, 

 where, however, its haunts are rapidly being drained. Its arrival is 

 usually in April, and it remains till September, or a little later. To 

 France it is now merely a wanderer, though in the time of Belon it 

 used to nest on trees in Brittany and Poitou ; but it breeds in the 

 south of Spain, as well as along the Danube and in the Black Sea 

 district, whence it emigrates in winter. Westward it wanders to the 

 Azores, Madeira and the Canaries ; while eastward, it ranges to 

 India, Ceylon, and Northern China ; in Africa it appears to be 

 resident as far south as Socotra. Representatives are found in South- 

 east Asia, South Africa, and Australia ; but the Roseate Spoonbill 

 of America belongs to a different genus, Ajaja. 



The nests, formed of broken-down and piled-up reeds, may be on 

 the surface of the water, as in Holland and Spain : on the submerged 

 branches of willows, as in Slavonia &c. ; or on trees, as already 

 mentioned ; the last being a favourite site in India and Ceylon. In 

 Southern Europe laying sometimes begins very early in May, the eggs, 

 4-6 in number, being deposited at considerable intervals ; they are 

 rough in texture, very variable in shape, and dull white, streaked and 

 spotted with reddish-brown, in colour : measurements 2*5 by i"8 in. 

 The food consists of small fish, frogs, molluscs, aquatic insects and 

 crustaceans, obtained in shallow pools \ and WoUey noticed that 

 the bird, while feeding, kept its bill immersed, upon which, as on a 

 pivot, a movement in a semi-circle was rapidly maintained by the 

 whole body. In captivity the Spoonbill is inoffensive to other 

 species, and will eat any sort of offal. Mr. R. B. Lodge heard the 

 bird emit a few low notes while flying round its nest ; but it has no 

 true vocal muscles, though a singular figure-of-8-like convolution of 

 the windpipe is found in old birds of both sexes. 



The adult male in spring has the plumage white, with a tinge of 

 yellow on the occipital plumes and fore neck ; bill yellow at the tip, 

 the rest black, barred with yellow ; gular region orange ; irides red ; 

 legs and feet black. Length 36 in. (bill 8"5 in.) ; wing 14*5. The 

 female is slightly smaller and has less crest. In winter the plumes 

 are absent. The young has the bill narrower at the tip, more 

 flexible, and of a livid flesh-colour ; irides ash-colour ; shafts and 

 ends of the quill-feathers black, and no occipital plumes. 



